Dr. Smith joined the faculty of Kent State University College of Public Health in August 2013 but previously spent nine years in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health where she directed the College’s Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. Dr. Smith’s research generally focuses on zoonotic infections (infections which are transferred between animals and humans). She was the first to identify livestock-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the United States, and has pioneered the investigation of this organism in the US. She is also very active in science communication and outreach, and has written books on Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, and Ebola.

Dr. Smith's talk is part of Iowa City Darwin Day's 2026 Science Fest, a multi-day celebration of evolutionary science, public health, and evidence‑based thinking. This year’s events include seminar and public talks by nationally recognized scholars focused on vaccines, science communication, and global health. There is also a Thursday evening book reading at Prairie Lights and an on-site vaccine booth on Friday and Saturday where attendees can check their immunization status and receive MMR, COVID-19, Tdap, Hep A/B, RSV, and Shingles vaccines on the spot.

All events are free and open to the public. For the full schedule, visit iowacitydarwinday.org.

Iowa City Darwin Day 2026 Science Fest sponsors: The University of Iowa Department of Biology; Vaccinate Your Family; UI College of Public Health; Iowa Immunizes; Obermann Center for Advanced Studies; UI Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Royal Society Publishing; UI Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies; UI School of Earth, Environment & Sustainability; UI Office of the Vice President for Research; UI College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; UI Department of Internal Medicine; UI Libraries; Nodo; UI Department of Anthropology; and 126.